MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDIES ON FLAVONOID COMPOUNDS: AN INSIGHT INTO AROMATASE INHIBITORS

Objective: Aromatase is a key enzyme that plays a crucial role in the synthesis of estrogen and has a major effect in pathogenesis of estrogen‑dependent disease, including breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and endometriosis. The abnormal over expression of aromatase can be inhibited by aromatase inhibitors. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the binding interaction of flavonoid compounds with cytochrome P450 enzyme aromatase, which is involved in the metabolism of estrogens and considered as a powerful target for treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancers. Methods: To understand the mechanisms involved in the binding of flavonoid compounds and their interactions with the binding site of aromatase, molecular docking studies were carried using Autodock 4.2. Results: The docking results revealed that, benzoflavanones showed higher binding affinity compared to other class of compounds. The presence of hydrogen bond interaction and cation–π interaction contributed to their higher binding affinity. The flavonoid compounds with unsubstituted or less substituted rings showed higher binding affinity than those with substituted rings. The hydrogen bonding interactions were predominant in all the classes of compounds considered for the study and were found to be important for inhibition. The docking studies showed that the binding energies mainly depend on aromatic properties like cation–π and π–π interactions. These properties play a key role in determining the biological activity of flavonoid compounds. Conclusion: The present findings provided valuable information on the binding process of flavonoid compounds to the binding site of aromatase and revealed the structural requirement needed for binding

Marriage and the crisis of peasant society in Gujarat, India

This contribution takes marriage as the example of a crisis of production and reproduction in rural India. Through the juxtaposition of ethnography separated by six decades, we detail a shift away from land and agriculture as the primary markers of status among the Patidars of central Gujarat, western India, in favour of a hierarchical understanding of international migration. The paper discusses the disconnect between a cultural revolution in favour of migration, and the failure of many to live up to their own cultural standards. More broadly, we reflect on the forces that simultaneously strengthen and dissolve caste inequality in the context of India's uneven growth

Relational approaches to poverty in rural India: social, ecological and technical dynamics

Poverty is now widely recognised as multidimensional, with indicators including healthcare, housing and sanitation. Yet, relational approaches that foreground political-cultural processes remain marginalised in policy discourses. Focusing on India, we review a wide range of relational approaches to rural poverty. Beginning with early approaches that focus on structural reproduction of class, caste and to a lesser extent gender inequality, we examine new relational approaches developed in the last two decades. The new approaches examine diverse ways in which poverty is experienced and shapes mobilisations against deprivation. They draw attention to poor people’s own articulations of deprivation and alternate conceptions of well-being. They also show how intersecting inequalities of class, caste and gender shape governance practices and political movements. Despite these important contributions, the new relational approaches pay limited attention to technologies and ecologies in shaping the experience of poverty. Reviewing studies on the Green Revolution and wider agrarian transformations in India, we then sketch the outlines of a hybrid relational approach to poverty that combines socio-technical and -ecological dynamics. We argue that such an approach is crucial to challenge narrow economising discourses on poverty and to bridge the policy silos of poverty alleviation and (environmentally) sustainable development

IN SILICO ANALYSIS OF INTERACTIONS IN HEME BINDING PROTEINS

Objective: Heme cofactors are essential molecule found in almost all forms of life. Biological systems depend on heme-protein interactions to carry out basic functions required for their survival. The objective of the present work is to analyse the various non-covalent interactions and also focus on amino acid preferences in heme binding environment.Methods: Various interactions like hydrophobic, aromatic and hydrogen bonds between heme and binding site of non-redundant dataset of 33 heme proteins were analysed to understand the characteristics of different type of interactions. Also the relative preference of amino acids participating in forming secondary structure, solvent accessibility, stabilizing residues and ion-pairs in heme binding environment was analysed.Results: The analysis of heme binding protein environment revealed some important findings, which include the dominant role of non-polar contacts. 12% of the predicted stabilizing residues were also involved in forming interaction with heme. The secondary structure preference analysis showed that 41% of interacting residues preferred to be in helix. The frequency of non-polar amino acids in the buried region was predominant. The preference of amino acid Arg to form complete ion-pair was higher and these ion-pairs formed strong interactions. This provides insights into the better understanding of the heme environment.Conclusion: The present findings through in silico analysis provide valuable information on natural heme binding proteins. These studies will contribute useful information regarding structural stability and its interaction in future designs of novel heme proteins.Â

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Not AvailableGenetic improvement of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) through the use of biotechnological tools requires a reliable in vitro shoot regeneration system. Tissue culture protocols reported to date for sunflower suffer from low efficiency, poor reproducibility, genotype dependence and a tendency for flowering in vitro. The present study describes an efficient protocol system for shoot regeneration via direct adventitious shoot organogenesis from cotyledons of mature seeds of sunflower. About 169 media combinations comprising 12 different growth regulator combinations in various concentrations were assessed for induction of shoots from cotyledons derived from mature seeds and also from seedling tissues of 2–20-day-old seedlings. Appearance of shoots from seedling tissues was sporadic and the frequency of shoot regeneration was low. Cotyledon explants from mature seeds were consistent with regard to frequency of adventitious shoot regeneration and number of shoots per explant. A high frequency (93.86 %) of adventitious shoot regeneration was obtained within 2 weeks of culture initiation on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 9.84 μM 2-isopentenyladenine (2-iP), 2.85 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 0.45 μM thidiazuron (TDZ). Use of 2-iP in the shoot induction and elongation media prevented precocious flowering. Statistical analysis revealed significant effects of explant orientation, age of seedlings, and genotype on adventitious organogenesis. Maximum shoot regeneration was obtained when cotyledons from 0 and 1-day-old seedlings were placed with their adaxial surface in contact with the medium surface. The protocol developed was tested on 42 genotypes and found to be applicable to a wide range of genotypes. Histological studies indicated that the shoots originated predominantly through adventive organogenesis from the sub-epidermal and cortical regions.Not Availabl

Craniosynostosis-Revisited

We all take special care when holding a tiny baby. This is partly because we know that "babies" head is particularly vulnerable, as it is still ′soft′ and the protective skull is yet forming. Skull growth continues until late adolescence and its proper functioning is crucial. Craniosynostosis, an inherited genetic condition, is characterized by the premature closure of sutures of the skull with effects that are wide - ranging and potentially devastating. Normally sutures and fontanelles allow the bones of the cranial vault to overlap during birth thus acting as an expansion joint, enabling the bone to enlarge evenly as the brain grows resulting in a symmetrically shaped skull. However, craniosynostosis occurs due to mutation in Homeobox gene - MSX2 and ALX4 or Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR 1,2,3) gene, thus explaining for its association with Apert, Crouzon, Chotzen, Pteiffers and carpenter syndromes

Co-relation of variables as determined from panoramic radiograph and evaluating their significance in eruption of permanent mandibular third molar

Purpose of the Study: Purpose of the study is to investigate whether the variables associated with the permanent mandibular third molar (PMM3) and arch dimensions could be co-related and significantly differentiated between a fully erupted and mesially impacted PMM3 among a set of Indian population. Study Design: A standardized panoramic radiograph was taken of subjects of age 21 years and above. Patients with missing tooth from mandibular arch, subjects undergoing or having history of orthodontic treatment, subjects having disto-angular, horizontal or vertical impacted PMM3 were excluded from the study. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: (1) mesially impacted PMM3 and (2) vertically erupted PMM3. Following measurements were taken from acetate paper tracing of standardized panoramic radiograph: (1) Angulation of long axis of PMM3 to permanent mandibular second molar (theta) (2) Angulation of PMM 3 to base of mandible (theta 2) (3) Gonial angle (theta 3) (4) Mesio-distal width of PMM 3 (5) Retro molar space. From these measurements Ganss ratio (retro molar space /PMM3 crown width.) was calculated. Results and Conclusion: Results revealed that angle theta 1, angle theta 2, retro molar space and Ganss ratio were positively co-related and highly significant variables associated with the mesially and vertically erupted teeth as measured on panoramic radiograph. Using these variables a long-term study can be carried out to predict the ultimate position of lower third molar in the arch so that if there is a probability of the tooth being impacted at a later age, a prophylactic germectomy can be performed at an early age

Adenomatoid Odontogenic Tumour: A Rare Case of Incidence in the Mandible

Adenomatoid Odontogenic tumor is an uncommon tumor of odontogenic origin, characterized histologically by formation of duct like structures by epithelial component and amyloid-like deposits′. Adenomatoid Odontogenic tumor accounts for about only 0.1 % of tumours and cyst of the jaw and 3% of all odontogenic tumours 2 . Adenomatoid Odontogenic tumor has a benign behaviour and conservative surgical enucleation is sufficient and the prognosis is excellent 3 . A unique case of Adenomatoid Odontogenic tumor in the mandible is discussed herewith